NSU Lambretta / Prima (specifications for the Prima)
Year
1950-57
Production
Lambretta 189
000 units / Prima 76 911
Engine
Single
cylinder, 2 stroke
Capacity
150 cc / 7.6
cub
in
Bore x Stroke
57 x 57.6 mm
Cooling
Air cooled
with blower
Lubrication
Oil bath
Ignition
Battery, 12 V,
carburetor
Starting
Electric
Spark plug
E3.32
Exhaust System
Single exhaust
Max Power
4.6 kW / 6.2
hp @ 4500 rpm
Clutch
Multi plate
Transmission
Three speed gearbox, with twist grip gear selection
Final Drive
Shaft
Font Suspension
Bottom link suspension
Rear Suspension
Swinging arm with dual coil springs and hydraulic
telescopic shock absorber
Frame
Rigid tubular steel frame, rubber mounted noise-isolated
body
Dimensions
Length
1905 mm / 75 in
Width
686 mm / 27 in
Ground
Clearance
140 mm / 5.5 in
Wheels
4.00 x 8 in
Rear Brake
Drum
Tank Capacity
7.6/ 2 US gal
Dry Weight
123 kg / 271
lbs
Average Consumption
2.7 l/100 km /
37 km/l / 87 US mpg
Top Speed
85 km/h /
52.8
mph
The motor scooter started to gain a foothold in post-war
Germany. NSU responded fastest and presented the NSU Lambretta for the first
time at the Frankfurt Trade Fair in 1950, built under licence from the Italian
company Innocenti. The new NSU target group: women. With standard fuel
consumption of 2 litres/100 km, the Lambretta enjoyed superb commercial success
in Germany. 1100 scooters rolled off the production line in August 1951 alone.
The NSU Lambretta started life in 1950's, being made under
license in Neckarsulm, and between then and the time the production stopped in
1957, some 189,000 examples were turned out of the factory. Based on the 125cc
engine unit, early example were as Innocenti had designed, but soon the NSU
works modified the scooters with there own "extras".
The first model to receive this treatment was the NSU Luxury Lambretta, which
gained two tone paint, highly polished bits of ally on the rear side panels
(supposed to protect the side panels), a front bumper bar, and a parking light
that could be switched on directly on the "motor scooter dashboard".
NSU carried out studies of there owners, and tried to
convince manual workers that the NSU was not just a "rich daughters" or "white
collar worker" mode of transport. The PR department regularly brought out
statements relating to the NSU as car like in its controls and creature
comforts, in an effort to push up sales.
August 1954 saw a new "worked on" (by Neckarsulm) engine
of 150cc displacement, with the improved hp of 6.2ps, not just available at high
revs, but across the range. The new engine could manage, two up journeys in
first gear of inclines up to 31.5%, which made it manage most of the pass's in
he Alps.
The NSU Lambretta's name switched to NSU Prima in 1956,
for no other reason then the license with Innocenti expired, this was due to
Innocenti's strict control on export (NSU were the first to export Lambretta to
the USA!). Production of the NSU ceased in 1957, as the NSU works supposedly got
bored with scooters and switched slowly to other four wheeled products. Perhaps
it was the lack of factory support that persuaded the Germans to switch!
Any corrections or more information on these motorcycles will be kindly appreciated.